Paperwasp Of North Texas

• Appearance:
• Paper wasps are generally slender with long legs and a distinctive, narrow waist.
• They have smooth bodies and can vary in color, often displaying shades of brown, red, and yellow.
• The wings are folded lengthwise when at rest.
• Nesting Behavior:
• Paper wasps build open-faced nests, often attached to the undersides of eaves, branches, or other sheltered locations.
• The nests are constructed by chewing wood fibers and mixing them with saliva to create a paper-like material.
• Colony Structure:
• Paper wasp colonies are relatively small compared to some other social wasps.
• A colony typically consists of a single reproductive female (queen), sterile female workers, and male wasps.
• The queen starts the nest and lays eggs, and the workers handle foraging, nest building, and caring for the young.
• Aggressive Behavior:
• Paper wasps are known for their aggressive defense of their nests.
• When disturbed, they may become aggressive and sting in defense.
• Stinging:
• Paper wasps are capable of stinging repeatedly, and their stings can be painful.
• The venom injected during stinging can cause reactions in some individuals.
• Diet:
• Adult paper wasps primarily feed on nectar, while their larvae are fed with insects and other arthropods captured by the adults.
• They play a role in controlling insect populations, making them beneficial in gardens